The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-07-30
Editnria1 Sriets.
BY REV. I. M. ATWOOD, D. D.
Canton, N. Y.


ton among idle and thriftless people of
being penurious, but who are, in Ham.
erton's felicitous phrase, little else than
q beautiful contrivance of Providence for
distributing wealth wisely to those who
need it." They are prudent, saving,
watchful, and hence thrifty. But they
are surrounded on all sides by men who
are not careful, nor economical, nor able
to get on. More or less of these persons
are In some way related TO them or de-
pendent on them. They furnish employ
ment direction, maintenance to several
of these thriftless dependents, who too
often repay them by harsh judgments on
their avarice, and by contributing to give
them reputation for parsimony.
The Critics structures of circular
sent out by the Bureau of Education. in
which is printed a speech Of Senior Ro-
nero, Mexican Minister, read in the Met
ropolitan M. E. Church, Washington, on
the 65th anniversary of the birth of Gen.
Grant, are not too severe. Apart from
the worthlessness of the Minister'S re-
marks, viewed either Bs biography or
eulogy, there is too much of the SAVIOR of
defense OF certain Mexican Railway on.
erations in which the Senior and Gen,
Grant were mutually mixed up. But the
point of criticism presses most sharply
on the fact that this fulsome trash is print
ed and sent out as information" by a
Bureau of the Government, and the Bu-
reau of Education, let it be Observed
The recelt delegate meeting of the
Young Peoples Society of Christian En-
deavor, an organization of the young peo-
pie of the Congregational and some Pres
byterian churches, suggests that our
Young Peoples Missionary Associations
might be made national power by a
similar annual convocation. Let these
associations, Of which there are now COM
paratively few, hold convention, get &C.
| qualnted with each other, compare views
and devise plans for uniform work. 1t
could scarcely fail to awaken a wide in
terest, extend the organization, increase
its usefulness and stimulate the ambition
OF our young people.
And how, Brother Brown, shall "the
faculties of our theological seminaries
give their influence against the tendency
to push aside the older ministers to make
places for young graduates?" The fac.
ulties do no pushing. The young grsdu-
ates do not push. Is any pushing done?
1t so, by whomP Itmust be the parishes
Where there are five vacancies to every
graduate the pushing ought not to be
painful. When the faculties of our SEM
inaries are asked to recommend one of
their graduates for a given position,
what shall they answer? Our advice to
them is, if they have young man fitted
for the place, recommend him, without
thought OF any other man, young or old.
The selection rests with the parish, where
it belongs. Older ministers ought to be
more capable and useful than young
graduates. Is it unjust to them to add,
that they ought to be equal to the task
OF making their greater value apparent
to the parishes?
Mr.. Il. l.. Green, editor OF the Free
Thinkers Magazine, writes DR.. J. G.,
Townsend, editor of the NeaU THeoloqy
Herald, suggesting that the Lakeside
School put another plank in its platform
and invite some representative Free
Thinker, like Robert Ingersoll or Helen
FL. Gardner to occupy portion of the
time DR.. Townsend replies, courteously,
expressing sympathy with much that the
Free-Thjnkers say and would like to do;
but drawing sharply the line between
their purposes and those of the New The
ology, He asks Mr.. Green, "Would it
be wise in us to put men on our platform
to tear down what we are trying to teach
what We believe is vital?"
| But Mr.. Solon Lauer, associate ed
itor Of the Herald, attempts on another
page of the same paper to show that the
| differences between the Free Thinkers
and New Theology people are, in reality,
very slight; that they agree in essen
tials," and that there is nothing to pre-
vent Free Thinker becoming au ortho-
dox member of the Lakeside School of
| New Theology. Mr.. Lauer's intentions
in this are Of the best; but we think the
position Of DIR. Townsend, the saner. It
the New Theology does rot wish to be
identified with Ingersollism let it keep its
platform 10 its original and specifio pur.
pose. The Free-Thinkers do not consider
it necessary to invite theologians, new or
old, TO their platform in order to vindi-
cate its freedom. Nothing is gained for
either party, by efforts to ignore real dit
ferences OF opinion or purpose,
Charles Barnard descends upon us
from the high summer latitudes to say
that the city wears man ont faster than
the country; that while this is true of all
! sorts of workers, it is especially true OF
literary workers; that however, a touch
ard taste of the city is essential to the
largest and best life; and that, therefore,
the reasonable thing for a writer to do,
who would prolOng his life and his ca
pacity Tor usefulness, is to spend a part
of the year-at least three months in
the country. BY this device Mr.. Barnard
makes out that the literary workman, who
otherwise would die before fifty, may